Method and apparatus for screening materials



Dec. 25, 1956 D. WESTON METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SCREENING MATERIALS Filed July 28, 1955 3 v will l sheets-sheet` 1 W/ENTOR Dfw/D h/STON D. WESTON Dec. 25, 1956 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SCREENING MATERIALS Filed July 28, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 www@ Nm R Lm Nah .12%

Dec. 25, 1956 D. wEsToN 2,775,347

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SCREENING MATERIALS Filed July 28, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 METHOD AND APPARATUS non vscnlsltnuiso This inventionrelates toa method rand apparatus for the screeningrof materials., .More '.particularly, itrelates to. a :method `and apparatus whichV is` suitable r for the screening of a .mixture of .openedl asbestosrbresfcrude mixtures: of the` same with unopened bre bundles, small rock particles, dust and the like. Y

Itqis well known to separate asbestosiibres Vtfromfsuch mixturesawithpthe aid of vibrating.` androtary type reciprocating screens butdue tojthe peculiar behaviour of fibrous materials when passed over suchscreens, such 'sep'- arationihas beenattended with considerabledifticulty and the degree of separation` attainableuhas been compara` tively small for eachscreening operation,'necessitating the u'se of a large number ofindividual.screeninglsteps in the production ofacceptable products. "l`he`-ba'sic diiculty arisesfromsthefact that `granular material on a reciprocating screenztendsV toistratifyafand fibrous materials tend'to mat. When .crudelasbestos mixed `with unopened nbre bundles, rock particles and dust is placed'on a reciprocating screen, the open asbestos brewill'forrn a mat on thev top of the material while the `remainingmaterial will stratifythe coarsest granular material forming the lowest strata and ftendingtosup'oprt the iinegranular'- material preventing it from passing through the interstices ofthe screen'. At the same time, dust` andvery tine granular material becomes held within the fibrevmat both mechani cally and .byreason of electrostaticattraction between the iibres and Vindividual particles of dust. f

. ilt is generally recognized that at least a portinof the dust` and` tine granular particles' may-be dislodged `from thematted .fibres by throwing the `iibreslagainst a solid surface or an impact blow` and that the particles heldon the top of. themat could-be removed byscreening provided'some means could be found for applying ya screen in'ra manner toLtakeadvantageofthein position at the top of .orfwithin'the rnat. i However, -despite theV existence of `the problem for many years and the recognition by those in'theart of the factors upon which` a `solution `rifiight be based, no apparatus has4 as yet been devisedtwhich is capable of bringing about a signiieant reduction in the numberlof; screening operations which are required-in the production of finishedasbestos ibre from crudestock which contains unopened iibrezbundle's, small rock particles and dust. f

I have found now thatlwhereas it lmay be cumbersome or. impractical to remove the material whichisheld within the `asbestos mat on the screen by screening itin an up' ward direction, it is entirely practical to invert the met as it cornes otf the end of one screen and deposit it upside down-on a subsequent screen and thus'remove the mate-` and above the end of a successive screen :of a similartchar-i acter. When the rotatingbaie means are rotated in'a direction` causing rthe Yindividual; batiies rtofsweep' out- 2,775,347 Patented Dec. z25, 1956 ice wardly awayfrom the lower end of the upper screen, the matwhich is discharged Vlfrom the end of the screen will fall on to a baffle with its upper side against the baille surface; While the-outer edge ofthe bailie is ata higher elevation than the axis of rotation of the bale means, the thus deposited mat will tend to slide down the baie towards the axis of rotation. However, as the'rotation continues, the outer edge of the baie is lowered and the deposited `material will slide down the bale on to the lower screen where it is deposited with the material which was' uppermostA on the upper screen lowerrnost on the lower screen. In this manner, the loose particles which have been held in the mat at the top of the materialon the upper screen are enabled to pass downwardly through the lower screen `and the separation process is greatly accelerated. n I s Y s Having regard to the foregoing, the apparatus of the invention consists broadly of `a pluralityA of sloping screens arranged in series with each successive screen being arranged below the next highest in the seriesto providea yspace between the lower end region of the next higher `screen andthe upper end region of the successive .used either to invert thematerial leaving the upper screen so that it is delivered to the lower screen withi the mat of libres '.lowermost or alternatively these rotating balies may be used to throw the material against the iixed baffle in order to loosen and dislodge tine material which is rnecl'ianicallyv or electrostatically held by the open fibres.

in order toy invert the mat which has been built up on the irst' screen, the rotating baflie means should rotate in a `direction whichV causes the baliies to sweep outwardly away from the lower end of the first screen. If the rotating baille means is used for the purpose of throwing the material! against a ixed baffle, it may be rotated in the opposite direction or in the same direction somewhat more tioned beyond the end of the upperscreen whereas in the former case the ixed baie will extend from the lower side of the upper screen to the upper end of the lower screen so that the baffle means is partly enclosed.

in any given series of screens in an apparatus according to the invention, it may be desired to have some of the bafflemeans rotate in one direction and some in the other direction so that a complete screening action on granular material, unopened ibre bundles, opened fibre, and dust maybe effected. lt may be found convenient, for instance,` to have the baie means between the first and secondscreens of the series arranged so as to invert the matr discharged from the first screen. This will result in a major portion of theloose granular material, dust, and etc. being-removed bythe time the material arrives at the lower end of thesecond screen. Then, if the bafe means between the second and third screens is arranged to rotate'in the opposite direction, the dust, granular material, and` etc. bound within the bre mat will be dislodged and a -goodwportion of it will be removed on the third screen. Some of the thus dislodged material may tend to stratify with the mat on the third screen, and accordingly, by inverting the mat between the third and fourthv screens, this stratilied material can be removed and'so on, the particular arrangement of thedirection of rotation of successive batile'means being a matter which can easily be moditied to suit particular conditions of operation.

:.'From `the above, it will be apparent that the invention` contemplates power means t-o `drive the rotatable baiiile` 3. means in the case where the baille means is intended to throw `the material from the upper screen against a iixed bale. It will be appreciated, however, that where the function of the baille means is to invert the mat during its passage from one screen -to another the baille means may be freely rotatable `so that the weight of :the material deposited on the bailles will cause rotation. Alternatively, the bailles -mayfbe provided with a power drive in this case also.

inasmuch as ythe raw material may be conveyed to the apparatus entrained in an airstream, -it may be convenient to enclo-se the space both above and below .the screens in a housing and to withdraw the air from a point beneath the screens'. In this case, it will be convenient .to convey ythe material which passes through the screens away from the apparatus in the withdrawn lairstream.

The invention and it-s operation will be more particularly described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention.

In the drawings,

Figure l is `a perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention partly broken away to illustrate `detail and showing the general arrangement of parts.

Figure la is `a detail `of `an alternative drive or the apparatus sho-wn in Figure l.

Figure 2 is a cross section of the apparatus illustrating in section the vibrating mechanism, the section being taken on the line 2-2 in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus taken along the plane 3-3 in Figure l.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of one of .the baille means illustrating the mounting thereof.

Figure 5 is `an enlarged detail view of the adjacent ends of two screens and the baille means illustrating one manner of operation of the apparatus of the invention, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail View similar to that shown in Figure 5 but illustrating a further method of operation according :to the invention.

Figure 6a shows the structure illustrated in Figure 6 in a `diilerent position during operation.

Figure 6b illustrates an alternative embodiment wherein the rotating baille means throws material against ta fixed baille positioned outwardly of the end of the upper screen.

Figure 7 illustrates an embodiment of the invention where-in iixed bailles vare used to control ythe ilow of material `from the upper to the lower screen.

Figure 7a illustrates an alternative arrangement of the bailles, and

Figure 8 is an enlarged section `taken through a screen and the material on it illustrating the type of stratiication which generally occurs' during .the screening of crude asbestos.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the

apparatus of the invention is mounted in a housing illustrated generally at 10 and consisting of the side walls 11 and 12 `and `the end wall 13 which are preferably [fabricated from welded sheet metal. The housing 10 is provided with four brackets 14 and the whole `apparatus is supported on the Afour rods `15 which 4are in turn supported on the compression springs 16 which bear upon suitable iixed structural elements 17. The whole apparatus, therefore, is freely suspended from -four spring mountings.

In `a central position and secured to each side w-all 11 and 12 are the heavy bushings 18 and 19 which are provided with the bearings 20 and 21 respectively, which bearings provide mounting for the vibrator shaft 22 which carries the centrally positioned eccentric [weight 23. The inner extremities of the bushings 18 and 19 are adapted to mount tubular member 24 which serves as a dust cover for the vibrator shaft and eccentric weight 23. Mounted on the shaft 22 outside the housing 10 at either end of the shaft are ily wheels 25 and 26 andthe shaft 22 is further provided with the sheave 27 by means of which the shaft may be rota-ted by the motor 28 and belt drive 29. When the shaft 22 is rotated, the eccentric weight 23 sets up a vibrating motion causing the whole apparatus to vibrate. The means above Adescribed for causing vibration of the apparatus are, of course, in themselves well known, and it will be appreciated that any other known means for accomplishing the same purpose could be substituted therefor in the present apparatus. In particular, depending upon the reciprocating action desired, the screens may be reciprocated with `a ycircular motion in their major plane, as is common in lthe asbestos art, or they may be vibrated in various planes by means of electrical vibrators.

Secured within the housing 10 an-d extending from side to side thereof are the screens 30, 31, 32 and 33. As will be best observed from Figure 3, these screens slope downwardly and are disposed in series, each successive screen being arranged below lthe next Ihigher in the series to provide a space 36 between the lower end region of the higher screen and the upper end region of the successive screen. The `forward end of each space 36 is closed oil by a fixed fbame 37 extending from the bottom side of the upper screen to the upper end of the lower screen. Mounted between each pair of screens substantially with-in the `spaces 36 are Ithe rotating baille means 38 (see Figure 4). These rotating braille means comprise generally the shaft 39 mounted upon bearings 40 and 41 in the side walls .l1 and 12 of the housing 10. Each shaft 39 is provided with `four radially disposed uniformly spaced bailles 42. The bearings 40 are journal bearings, but the shaft 39 extends through the bearings 41 and is provided at its end with the sheave v43, whichmay be connected to a belt `drive y44 (see Figure l). As `shown in Figure l, lthe shaft of the .baille means between the screens 30 and 31 is provided with an additional sheave 45 Iwhich is driven by the belt drive 46 by suitable power means {not shown). While the baille means 38 have been illustrated as comprising four radial bafiles, it will be appreciated that lthe apparatus would operate justas eifectively with a smaller or larger number of radial bailles. Further, although in Figure 1 all of ythe bai-lle means 3S are illustrated as being power driven, it is contemplated that in cer-tain cases the baille means will be rotated by the weight of the material deposited on the blades. In this case, the sheaves 43 will not be present. Further, it may be desired to rotate one vor more of the baille means in the direction `which will 4cause the bailles to throw the material .deposited on them against the bailles 3'7. This can lconveniently be done in the apparatus illustrated in Figure l, for instance, by reversing the belt drive as it passes over the s'heave 43 of the baille means between the screens 31 and 32 so that its associated baille means will rotate in a direction opposite to the baille means between the screens 30 and 31 and the screens 32 and 33 (as shown in Figure la). Alternatively, the same object would be accomplished Iby attaching the sheave 45 and the power drive y46 lto the shaft of the baille means between the screens 31 and 32 eliminating the belt 44 and permitting the remaining two braille means to rotate Ifreely by tne action o-f material deposited upon the baflles.

In cases where a particular baille means 38 is intended to rotate so as to throw material against its associated baille 37, it will-be desirable to position the shaft 39 slightly beyond the end of the upper screen 31a (see Figure 5) so that the rotating baflles will not tend to throw material back on the screen 31a. On the other hand, if the bailles are intended to rotate in the other direction so as to invert the mat from the upper screen before depositing it upon the lower screen the shaft 39 should be located underneath the end of the screen 31b (see Figure 6).

The operation of the apparatus illustrated in the drawings is as follows:

Material to be treated is deposited'at the upper end of screen 30 either from a belt conveyor (not shown) or from an airstream in which the material is entrained (also not shown). Alternatively, the feed might be fed from a storage bin, the particular method of feeding being dependent upon the circuit which is in use at the particular plant. The shaking action produced by the shaft 22 and its eccentric weight 23 causes the material to spread out `over the screen 30 and form a mat 50 of asbestos fibre which continually moves down the screen and falls oi the lower end thereof. As the mat moves down the screen, loose material such as dust, unopened fibre bundles and ne granular material, situated in the lower regions of the mat and not mechanically or electrostatically bound therein will pass through the interstices of the screen 30 and be removed. At the same time, the material remaining on the screen will stratify substantially in the manner illustrated in Figure 8 with a mat 60 of opened asbestos fibre on the surface, which mat will contain a certain amount of mechanically or electrostatically held fine granular material and dust, a layer 61 consisting principally of unopened fibre bundles immediately beneath the mat 60, a layer 62 of fine granular materials immediately beneath the layer 61 supported on a layer 63 on relatively coarse granular material which is supported on the screen 30. As the material falls off the lower end of the screen 30, it will strike the surface of a baie 42 in the manner illustrated in Figure 6 with the top of the mat`50 and the layer of granular material etc. 51 against the bafiie. The end of the mat 51 will move down the baflie 42 towards the shaft 39 until the baffle passes the horizontal position at which time the succeeding bafiie 42a will cut the mat as it sweeps past the lower end of the screen 30 permitting it to fall fiat against the bafe 42. When the baie 42 has proceeded around to the point where it is in the same position as the bafiie 42b in Figure 6, the mat will commence to slide off the baffle and on to the screen 32, dust and granular material from the layer 51 striking the screen first in the area 52 and passing therethrough to be removed while further loose material within the mat will be removed as the material progresses down the screen 32.

When the material has passed over a suicient number of screens and has been inverted between each successive screen in the manner described above, a stage will be reached when all of the loose material will have been removed from the fibre mat, and it will then be desirable to loosen the material which is held within the mat by subjecting it between successive screens to the action of a bafiie means rotating in the opposite direction so as to throw the material forcibly against a bafile 37 in the manner illustrated in Figure 5, or a more rapidly rotating baie rotating in the same direction which throws the material forcibly against a batiie 64 as illustrated in Figure 6b.

As illustrated in Figure la, it may be found convenient to invert the fibre mat between the first and second screens, loosen the bound material between the second and third screens, and invert the mat again between the third and fourth screens.

In place of a rotating baffle, use may be made of fixed baes such as those illustrated in Figures 7 and 7a. In this case, the material will be deposited against the sloping face 65 of the baffle 66 with the top layer 51 generally next the surface 65. The slope of the bale 65 must, of course, be greater than the angle of repose of the material being treated. The material may then be deposited directly on the lower screen 31 as illustrated in Figure 7 Where ythe small baie 67 acts merely to prevent material from overowing the upper end of the lower screen 31. Alternatively, a second fixed bafiie such as the curved bafiie 68 illustrated in Figure 7a may be used to direct material delivered by the bafle 66 on to the lower screen 31. In either case, the stratification will be destroyed on passage between the screens, and a more effective screening action can be effected by the lower screen 31. What use is made of rotating baflies and fixed baies in any particular apparatus will, of course, be determined by the character of the material which is being treated, and in this connection, it must be remembered that whereas the present invention has been described having particular regard `to the screening of asbestos, it can be used to advantage in many other applications where the nature of the materials being treated give rise to stratification problems.

Depending upon the actual operating conditions and the type of material being treated, it may be found desirable to increase the number of screens in the apparatus, or to Vary the mesh size of the screens. It will be apparent, therefore, that the apparatus is easily adaptable to meet conditions of operation, and in view of the above description, those skilled in the art will have no diculty in modifying the apparatus to meet the particular conditions and the particular material in any given case.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. Apparatus for screening materials comprising; a plurality of sloping screens arranged in series, each successive screen being arranged below the next higher in the series to provide a space between a lower end region of the next higher screen and an upper end region of the successive screen; means for imparting reciprocating movement to said screens; a fixed transverse baille extending between the lower side of the next higher screen and the upper end of the successive screen, defining said space on its forward side; and rotatable bafe means mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, disposed below the lower end of the next higher screen and extending transversely from side to side of said space, said baille means comprising a plurality of baies disposed substantially radially of the axis of rotation thereof, said baille means being so positioned that said bafiies during rotation of said baffle means extend beyond the lower end of the next higher screen to intersect the path of travel of material discharged therefrom.

2.Apparatus as defined in claim l comprising power means to drive said bafiie means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim l wherein said baffle means is mounted freely for rotation by the influence of material deposited on the baflies from said next higher screen.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 comprising power means arranged to drive said baie means in a direction of rotation which is such that at the top of their sweep the radial bafiies are moving toward said fixed bale.

5. Apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said baffle means is arranged to rotate in one direction and at least one of said bafe means is arranged to rotate in the opposite direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 454,065 Pye June 16, 1891 FOREIGN PATENTS Y 3,383 Great Britain Nov. 14, 1907 

